Portable elevating table



P 1933- o. SCHLICHTER PORTABLE ELEVATING TABLE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1951 l H G 7 g k 2 O u m7 2 I Q 5 INVENTOR.

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P 1933- o. SCHLICHTER 1,927,598

PORTABLE ELEVATING TABLE Filed April 2, 1931 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Oscar Jc/zlackier,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

1,927,598 PORTABLE ELEVAT-ING TABLE Oscar Schlichter, Hamilton, Ohio Application April 2, 193 1. sci-also. 521,317

' 4 Claims. (01. 254-1) The invention relates to portable tables for carrying work from and to machines or from table to table or other supports and in which the table top is vertically adjustable to accommodate it to aline it with work benches or the table plates of tools of various kinds, or to enable ready shifting of a piece of work from the portable table to place in a machine where it is to be tooled.

The invention has for an object to improve the construction of such tables to the end that extreme simplicity, ease of operation with heavy loads, and durability are attained, all at a moderate cost for manufacture. It is also a purpose to enable the use of the table as a multiple support affording several platforms upon which work may be disposed for movement from place to place or for storage. To this end, it is a purpose to improve the specific mounting of the operating parts with a view to simplifying the construction and to make the parts readily accessible for lubrication or replacement.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention resides in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation of the table,

Figure 2 is an end view of the table.

Figure -3 is a detail horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 1, (through the shaft worm and its bearing at one corner).

I Figure 4 is a detail vertical section at one corner transverse to the operating worm.

4. There is illustrated a portable elevating table comprising a bottom frame plate 10, a simple planifonn rectangular rolled sheet of substantial thickness. I

there are erected hollow cylindrical columns 11, suitably flanged at the foot, these foot flanges 12 being bolted to the plate 10. The columns are shown as cast members. They are formed with 4 bosses 12' on their lower ends set snugly incorresponding openings formed in the plate. The plate serves as a spacer for the columns and as a platform upon which work or tools may be placed. The columns are formed wlth slightly enlarged parts or gear bores 13 at'their upper ends in which lateral openings 14 are formed, and these openings preferably are all presented in the same direction. Theenlargement of each column is provided on the inside of the gear box with a shoul- 5 der flange 15 flush with the lower side of the the top of the gear box, the screw extending Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Adjacent the corners of this plate,

opening 14, this shoulder being. suitably extended inward to afford a seat for a'ballrbearing unit. 16 including upper and lowe iracesfand interposed balls, which may be one fla number'of approved commercial'forms' liable,v on, the C9 market. The upper end of thecolumn 'isthickened inwardly, so that a top 1;? over the gear box. The columns support a middle pim -is. the top ends of the columns being formed with bosses 19 set snugly in corrseponding openings in the plate 18. The top portion 17 of the column over the gear box is also thickened vertically and bored to receive slidably a screw 21. The plate 18 is held to the columns by screws 20 engaged in the thickened top part 17 of the column. The screw 21 is engaged in an interiorly threaded spiral gear-nut 22 set snugly but removably between the ball bearing unit 16 and freely through the bearing and into the lower part of the column. The inner edge of the shoulder 15 clears the screw to permit free'movement of the latter without binding or obstruction. At each side of the opening 14 ineach column there is formed a bearing ear 23, theears on each two columns at each side 'ofthe device being alined and having revolubly engaged therein a shaft 24 upon which there ismounted'a worm .25 between the ears on each column, this worm being meshed with the respective spiral gear 22.

A crank 26 is mounted on one end of one shaft 24, and alined sprockets 27 are fixed'on the shafts, having an endlesschain 28 engaged therer around, so that the shafts are caused to rotate in unison. A small lthrust ball bearing 29 is provided on each shaft immediately beside one column, one race of this bearing being set against the adjacent ear zii while'the other is set against the worm 25. Q k

The upper ends ,of the screws 21 are tenoned and have flange collars. 30 pinned thereto, which are held' by countersunk bolts or' rivets 31- to the table top or plate 32;f The plate 32 is shown as apertured to receive the extremities of the screw tenons projecting abovethe collars and stopping flush with the top of the tabletop.

It is apparent that.) man, of-the crank will rotate all of the using corresponding movement of all sex s 24"and the .table top. Engagementcof screws 21 in the gears 22 and bearings 16 the parts in place and elevation of the screws above the gears permits removal of the gears and bearing units through the openings 14, as well as permitting removal of the top 32. The ears 23 are adjacent the upper sides of the openings 14 and the gears have hub portions resting on the bearings.

' scre The manner of mounting the shaft 24 and the bearings 16 presents all of the parts requiring lubrication in a convenient position for introduction of the necessary lubricants, as well as enabling'ready inspection, cleaning or replacement of parts. A cover plate 36 secured removably over the opening 14 enables the boxes 13 to be filled with grease, whereby all bearings will be lubricated from the one source and renewal required only at long intervals.

On the lower end of each screw 21 there is secured an oblong stop plate 37, held by a screw 38 engaged in the extremity of the screw 21 before the caster stud 33 is put in place as will be described. This plate 3'7 engages the shoulder flange 15 at the upper limit of movement of the 21 preventing casual disengagement of the screws from the gear nuts.

The bosses 12 at the lower ends of the columns:

11 are apertured and receive therein stationary studs 33 of castor units 34 which are revoluble thereon. The studs are held by screws 35 engaged through the bases of the columns, or by other means. The casters may be of any approved construction suitable for the use contemplated. I

The utilization of simple planiform rolled stock for the bottom and middle plates and the table this table to a very low figure. It will be noted that only a single specialv form is required, consisting of the column 11, all the remainder of the appliance being stock material, and the formation of the necessary apertures in the" plates may be readily effected by a simple gangdrill or punch operation.

There is another important advantage in the utilization of the simple plates as the horizontal frame elements, which is not ordinarily found in appliances of this kind. This consists in freedom from liability of loosening or permanent strain of the framing by reason of severe collisions with objects striking only the upper or lower parts of the device, loaded or unloaded.

The plates have a substantial degree of inherent resiliency, so that when a displacement of the upper part of the device relatively to the lower part occurs, the plates may flex, cushioning the shock, and returning the parts to original form quickly. The shafts 24 may likewise spring and return to rectilinear form. Owing to the rigidity of the column assemblies, no material disturbance of the relation of the parts mounted thereon will occur. The importance of this'quality in the construction is not solely due to its functioning under severe shocks, but will be constantly manifest in the innumerable shocks occurring daily due to shifting of the table from place to place and bringing it into close abutment with machines and benches. With a bolted or riveted truss frame depended on to stiffen the structure, there would be a constant racking of the frame, which only the ordinary shocks would finally loosen and require repair. This is a matter of common experience in various bench and table constructions.

The table may be moved by being pushed, and to facilitate its handling may have incorporated any usual means for the purpose.

I claim:

1. A portable table of the character described, comprising lower and upper resilient plates flexible but resistant to normal stresses, connecting rigid columns fixed upon the plates, a table plate of similar quality to and located above the said upper plate and a lifting means therefor mounted on the columns.

2. A portable table of the character described, comprising a wheeled frame consisting of a lower plain resilientsheet plate resistant to minor stresses, a plurality of four columns of rigid construction having foot portions secured upon the plate, wheels mounted on the lower ends of the columns below the plate, respective vertically movable screws mounted on the columns, a table top carried thereby, gear nuts on the columns, and means to rotate the nuts simultaneously.

3. A structure as in claim 2 in which each columnis formed with a box-like upper part having a horizontal seat upon which the gear nut is revolubly mounted, and through which the respective screw is movable, said box-like part having a lateral opening through which the gear may be emplaced, and having a bearing formed on each side of the opening, shafts mounted in the bearings of the columns, worms on the shafts meshing with the gear-nuts, a synchronizing connection between the shafts, and means to operate the shafts. r

4. A structure as in claim 2 in which each column is formed with a box-like upper part having a horizontal seat upon which the gear nut is revolubly mounted, and through which the respective screw is movable, said box-like part having a lateral opening through which the gear may be emplaced, and having a bearing formed on each side of the opening, a shaft commonly mounted in the bearings of the columns at opposite sides of the table, worms on the shafts meshing with the gear-nuts, a synchronizing connection between the shafts, and means to operate the shafts, the wheels aforesaid consisting of castor devices each having a stud mounted in the base of a respective column.

OSCAR SCI-ILICHTER. 

